Chapter 554: Chapter 554: Comparing Handwriting

Arriving at the study, Jiang Ning asked impatiently, “How did it go?”

“Hmm.”

As expected, Gucheng pulled out a letter and placed it on the table.

Jiang Ning’s eyes lit up: “I knew it! There’s nothing Gucheng can’t do. You weren’t followed, were you?”

Gucheng was silent for a while before slowly saying, “Mu Jian did send someone to watch me, but his martial arts were weak, and he didn’t notice me.”

“Great job! You’ve worked hard!” Jiang Ning was overjoyed and handed Gucheng a plate of snacks from the table, “Here, sit down to rest for a while, and let me take a look at the letter.”

Gucheng: “…”

He was not a child.

He couldn’t be sent away with a plate of fruit.

But out of respect for the young lady, he still took the plate and quietly walked to a corner to sit down. As he ate the snacks, he watched the little princes and princesses playing outside.

Jiang Ning opened the letter and first examined the handwriting instead of focusing on its content.

Ah.

It was indeed very similar.

Both had slightly beautiful and elegant writing that showed practice at first glance.

Fearing that she might miss something, Jiang Ning hurriedly took out the letter she had obtained from Denghua and laid the two side-by-side, comparing them carefully.

Whether it was the strokes, the connections, changes in direction, pauses, or other details, they were almost identical.

Most strikingly, the character “奉 (serve)” had one less stroke in both of them, whether intentional or not.

After the comparison, Jiang Ning could ascertain that Mu Jian was the man who had written the letter to Denghua.

Confirming her suspicion, Jiang Ning didn’t feel any joy at all.

She only felt alarm.

Mu Jian was Li Hongyuan’s man.

Why would Li Hongyuan harm his own mother?

This was absolutely unreasonable.

If it wasn’t Li Hongyuan, who could have given Mu Jian his orders?

Could he have already betrayed Li Hongyuan?

Jiang Ning preferred to believe the latter. No matter what, she didn’t want to believe that Li Hongyuan was such a ruthless person, even hurting his own mother with poison.

Jiang Ning stared at the letter, frowning.

At this moment, Huang Ying ran in and said anxiously, “Master, there’s news from the front. The Old Master wants to see you.”

“What? My father?” Jiang Ning looked up, “Where is he?”

“He’s already at the East Palace.”

“He just came over?” Jiang Ning was surprised.

Huang Ying smiled, “Of course, it is with the Emperor’s permission.”

“It’s so strange that the Emperor would agree to let my father come to the Harem.” Jiang Ning thought it was unbelievable, but she always wanted to see her family. Now that her father was just outside, there was no reason for her not to see him.

As they talked, a young eunuch led Jiang Ruobai in.

Jiang Ning hurriedly went to greet him, “Father!”

Jiang Ruobai smiled warmly, looking as refined and gentle as ever. He even ceremoniously bowed to Jiang Ning.

“Don’t be like that, father. I am your daughter.”

“In the future, when you become Empress, you will be the mother of the nation, and even I as your father will be your subject. We mustn’t neglect the proper etiquette.”

Jiang Ruobai mentioned this matter without any reservations.

Fortunately, there were no outsiders, and Huang Ying and Gucheng in the room were both absolutely trustworthy.

“Father, come and sit down. I have something to tell you.” Jiang Ning pulled Jiang Ruobai to sit down and asked Huang Ying to pour some tea.

But Jiang Ruobai was only concerned about his daughter, “Why have you lost some weight? Are the meals in the palace not to your liking? Indeed, the imperial food is barely edible. How about I have our cook from home come into the palace to serve you after I return?”

“Father, father!” Jiang Ning quickly interrupted, “Now is not the time to talk about these trivial matters. I have something serious to tell you!”